HR Manager in Newcastle upon Tyne

REPORTING TO: Head of HR

HOURS: 09.00 – 17.00 Monday - Friday

LOCATION: Manchester, Newcastle or Harrogate

About Hempsons

With over 250 staff and lawyers working across five offices nationwide, Hempsons is a leading law firm for the health and social care, charity, and social enterprise sectors. We help our clients tackle a constantly changing array of opportunities and challenges. Our aim is to provide outstanding legal services that deliver the best possible client outcomes whilst nurturing a culture that makes us a "great place to work".

The Role

We have an opportunity for a HR Manager to join our HR team in either Manchester, Newcastle or Harrogate. The role can be based in any of these offices, but you will be expected to support the HR team nationally. As part of a team providing HR strategic and operational support for the firm, the generalist HR Manager (HRM) will provide day to day advice and guidance on employment legislation, best practice, the firm’s policies, procedures, benefits, and will work to deliver the recruitment and other objectives of the firm. The role will be responsible for providing HR support and being the first point of contact to our Healthcare Litigation, Advisory, Inquests, Regulatory and Costs teams.

The HR team consists of a Head of HR, two HR Managers (one is this vacancy), a Talent Acquisition Manager, a Social Value and Inclusion Advisor, HR Advisor, Emerging Talent Assistant, and an HR Assistant.

Core Duties And Responsibilities (Not Limited To)

• New Employees, Induction and Probation: Oversee the induction for all new staff, liaising with appropriate members of other departments, ensuring 1 month, 3 month and 6 month reviews take place and documentation is returned. Alert the Head of HR if a staff member may not pass probation.
• Employee Relations: Provide day‑to‑day advice on all aspects of employee relations, offer specific advice on disciplinary, grievance and equality and diversity matters, act as investigating officer in disciplinary matters where appropriate, keep notes of investigations and recommendations, attend disciplinary hearings as a panel member, maintain records and ensure staff are monitored and reviewed.
• Performance Review: Oversee the annual performance management/appraisal process, ensuring relevant forms are completed for all eligible staff.
• Salary Review (including promotion process): Assist the Head of HR with salary review and market research; collaborate with Finance Director or Financial Controller and HR team to produce salary charts and amend as directed; assist with production, amendment, mail merge and distribution of salary review notifications and manage the annual formal fee‑earner promotion process.
• Absence Monitoring: Ensure all sickness records are up to date; conduct absence interviews for staff with excessive sickness; monitor staff on long‑term sickness.
• Payroll: Serve as first point of contact for partners, employees, and finance on all payroll matters; provide Finance with accurate payroll information each month; ensure letters are issued, systems updated and legislation compliance maintained.
• Compensation and Benefits: Support the Head of HR on renewal and review of benefits package and pay review process.
• Leavers: Send appropriate leavers letters; conduct exit interviews; circulate comments; pass recruitment business case forms to line managers.
• Internal communications from HR: Lead drafting of firm‑wide communications; maintain HR team SharePoint page content.
• HR System: Main point of contact for PeopleHR, ensure data integrity, efficient use and ROI.
• Policies: Lead review of policies per review dates, keep policy review spreadsheet updated, draft new policies and monitor legislative changes.
• Recruitment: Liaise with Talent Acquisition Manager to support recruitment, ensure each request has business case, candidate specification, job description, is within budget and authorised, coordinate offers and feedback.
• HR Projects: Lead and deliver firm‑wide HR projects and initiatives to improve culture, employee engagement and retention.
• Other duties: As reasonably directed by Head of HR.

Candidate Specification

• Experience as an HR manager with ability to deliver HRM responsibilities.
• At least one year at manager level, ideally within a law firm.
• Experience handling employee relations cases.
• Full TUPE process experience.
• Experience leading involvement in HR change management projects.
• Commercial approach when making recommendations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Good interpersonal skills to work at all levels.
• Experience conducting recruitment interviews.
• Graduate recruitment experience desirable.
• Strong academics required – fully CIPD qualified, part‑CIPD, bachelor’s degree or equivalent; industry experience may substitute a degree.
• Experience reviewing and drafting HR policies/employee handbooks.
• Sound knowledge of current employment legislation and best practice.
• IT skills: Outlook, Word, Excel, PeopleHR database.

What We Can Offer You

Our benefits package is designed to enable colleagues to thrive in an inclusive and supportive environment. Benefits include private health insurance, life assurance, critical illness cover, season ticket loans, cycle‑to‑work scheme and more.

Equal Opportunities Employer

Hempsons is committed to providing equal opportunities for all and encouraging diversity through recruitment. Applications are welcome from all sections of the community and decisions to progress will be made with reference to entirely objective criteria only.

Hybrid Working

Hybrid Working, in line with the firm’s current hybrid guidance, a minimum of 2 days per week in the office is required.

Disclaimer

Please note, this job description is not contractual and may be amended or revised from time to time to meet the needs of the firm or the department. It will be reviewed periodically.